Abstract: An improved capillary seal for use with a hydrodynamic bearing is disclosed, which provides a stronger or stiffer seal for a fluid dynamic bearing motor which is open at both ends, and is used with top cover attached motors utilizing fluid dynamic bearings. The design for the seal system actively pushes the oil back into the FDB while it is spinning, combined with the capillary tension which holds oil in the FDB during stationary periods, and allows air, trapped within the seal and the associated FDB, to be expelled, eliminating air bubbles from the fluid dynamic bearing.

Abstract: An improved spindle motor design of a type especially for use in a disc drive is disclosed, which provides a simplified design for installation of the stator over the shaft, and should especially locate the stack both radially and axially in a specific location relative to the shaft so that its location relative to the surrounding, rotating parts of the motor is fixed. In addition, the improved spindle motor design fixes the stack on the shaft through radial interference, eliminating the need for adhesive to fix the stator to the shaft. Also, the design minimizes the cost of assembling the stack on the shaft, isolates the stack and shaft from conveying vibration one to the other, and electrically grounds the stack to the shaft.

Abstract: Bearings in a motor or bearing cartridge are positioned relative to the shaft and an outer sleeve, and a bearing retainer is then pressed against the outer races of one of the bearings in order to hold the bearings in position and preload the bearings in a desired orientation. The bearing retainer is chilled to a temperature significantly different than the sleeve with which it cooperates; shrinking the retainer to a size where it may be slip fit within a sleeve or other means for supporting the bearings in place. The retainer is then pressed against the outer races of the bearings, and held in place while it returns to the temperature of the sleeve within which it is fit. In this way, the preload is defined and maintained for the long term, as the retainer is pressed tightly against the outer race of the bearings; and the retainer is held within the sleeve as it returns to the same temperature being chilled is eliminated.